Sponsors and Partners

National Institute on Media and the Family, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The National Institute on Media and the Family is the world's leading and most respected research-based organization on the positive and harmful effects of media on children and youth. The National Institute on Media and the Family is an independent, nonpartisan, nonsectarian, and nonprofit organization whose mission is based on research, education, and advocacy. Its MediaWise® movement is being adopted in communities throughout the country to help families make wiser media choices and encourage parents to “Watch What their Kids Watch.”

The National Institute on Media and the Family would like to recognize and thank these organizations for their contributions to Switch:

Cedar Rapids Community Schools, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids Community Schools strive to increase family and community support for student learning while developing world-class learners and responsible citizens through visionary leadership and teamwork. The schools’ guiding philosophy is continuous improvement upon their commitment to excellence in the academic, social, emotional and behavioral development for all learners.

Lakeville Area Public School District, Minnesota
The Lakeville Area Public Schools is a partnership of students, parents, staff, and community dedicated to assuring successful educational experiences for all students, resulting in "learning for a lifetime". The schools are committed to creating a district-wide climate that increasingly promotes constructive activities through prevention, education, intervention and community involvement. The Lakeville Area Public Schools are proud to participate in the SWITCH Program. This health and wellness initiative supports the mission and vision of the schools and our community. This project is funded entirely through corporate sponsorship and no school district funds will be used to support the program or the materials that will be provided to the participants.

Healthy and Active America Foundation, Tampa, Florida
The Healthy and Active America Foundation (HAAF), supports significant and innovative research initiatives designed to identify community-based solutions for the prevention of childhood obesity. The principal goal is to create a successful, simple, evidence-based template of action to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity that can be replicated in local communities across the country by promoting increased physical activity, a reduction in screen time, and nutrition education. It's supporting partner, The Coalition for a Healthy and Active America (CHAA), is an vigorous advocate for developing healthy and active lifestyles for America's youth. HAAF supported the Switch projects in Lakeville, MN and Cedar Rapids, IA

Cargill, Minnetonka, Minnesota
Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 124, 000 employees in 59 countries, Cargill is committed to using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed. Cargill supported the Switch Project in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit http://www.cargill.com.

Medica Foundation, Minnetonka, Minnesota
The Medica Foundation is a non-profit, charitable grant-making foundation. It is a sister and supporting organization to Medica Health Plans, a Minnesota-based non-profit HMO. Medica’s partnership in the Switch program reflects the organization’s commitment to improving the health of its members. Medica has a number of different initiatives that help its members stay healthy through fitness, nutrition and lifestyle improvements. The Foundation generally seeks to fund community-based programs and initiatives that can provide sustainable, measurable improvements in the availability, access and quality of health care. Medica is Minnesota’s largest HMO, largest PPO and leading non-profit and independent provider of health plans. Medica has 1.2 million members. Medica Foundation supports the Switch Project in Lakeville, MN. For more information visit http://www.medica.com.

Fairview, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Fairview Ridges Hospital, Burnsville, Minnesota
Fairview is committed to improving the health of the communities we serve by offering preventative health care programs. Fairview provides exceptional care to children and is vested in the critical health care issues that impact them. Through this project, Fairview is leading the way to increase knowledge about balanced nutritional practices, physical activity and screen time for children to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity which will then be replicated in other local communities across the country. Fairview supported the Switch Project in Lakeville, MN. For more information visit http://www.ridges.fairview.org/.